Jose Mourinho's European pedigree is a major obstacle facing Manchester United as they head to the Bernabeu for their clash with Real Madrid.

REMEMBER THIS? Rio Ferdinand closes on Ronaldo as Reds lose at the Bernabeu in April, 2003

Jose Mourinho’s desire to get his hands on a third Champions League trophy is the big danger facing United in Wednesday’s glamorous last-16 tie at the Bernabeu.

Mourinho took Spanish giants Real Madrid to the La Liga title last season and turned his attention to the prize the club covets the most.

It has been at the expense of domestic form in the league and Los Blancos now trail Barcelona by 16 points, meaning back-to-back title successes are out of the question.

Real’s eggs are now mainly in the Euro basket.

Mourinho has already won the big silver pot twice before with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.

A third triumph with Real would see him become the first coach to win UEFA’s crown with three different clubs.

Real have won the European Cup a record nine times but their last success was 11 years ago when Zinedine Zidane’s fabulous Hampden Park volley beat Bayer Leverkusen to win the 2002 cup.

While United have a Treble bid on their agenda, only a Copa del Rey semi-final second leg on February 26 in Barca against their fierce rivals can distract Madrid after a 1-1 home draw.

“I think their target is the European Cup,” said Sir Alex Ferguson.“They got a bad start in the league and were chasing their tail a bit because Barcelona’s form has been incredible.

“I think Jose has set his targets firmly on the European Cup, no doubt about that. “It can be harder for us but there’s a bit of pressure for them too. At this moment in time, we’re involved in three things. Jose has still got the semi-final of the Copa del Rey.

“You look at English football and say it’s a very, very difficult programme and every game is hard but you look at Madrid’s programme at the moment and it’s also very difficult. Every game is hard.

“Maybe in Jose’s situation he can make changes simply because the priority is the European Cup. It’s always been important to them, the European Cup, and I don’t think it (pressure) necessarily applies to Jose as I think he’s done a great job there.

“He’s really built up a terrific squad of players and could play two teams, like us.

“I don’t think it applies to him but you never know in football.

“I don’t think there’s any secrecy in his own desire to win the European Cup and, don’t forget, he’d be the only person to win it with three different teams so it’s a fantastic challenge for Jose. It is a great game to be involved in – Manchester United v Real Madrid in the Champions League – they are the games you want to play in and all the lads are looking forward to it and excited.”

The last time United went to the Bernabeu was when the Galacticos were Champions League holders.

Despite closing in on the Premier League title then, as now, and travelling to Spain in 2003 following a 4-0 Old Trafford thumping of Liverpool, the Reds were overwhelmed in Madrid 3-1.

In the return it was a virtuoso hat- trick from the original Ronaldo – the Brazilian one – that gave the Spaniards an aggregate quarter-final victory. Madrid legend Raul had scored twice in the home leg and Rio Ferdinand recalled it was one of his toughest assignments.

“The away game – they really played us off the park if I’m honest,” he said.

“Raul was brilliant. He was just difficult to get up against. He played off (the front) and asked you the question: ‘Do you want to come in here and mark me? If you come in here someone else will run in the space that you leave or I’ll just get it, turn and play it in the space that you leave.’

“In terms of making you think, he definitely was the most intelligent player I’ve played against.”

Ferdinand cites Lionel Messi’s performance against the Reds in the Rome and Wembley finals in 2009 and 2011 as similar experiences.

Now ex-Old Trafford boy Cristiano Ronaldo is the man United need to stop.

“We’ve had a few texts, but when you get into a situation like this when you’re coming up against a friend, all the texts and the conversations go to one side and you don’t really speak until you actually get the game over and done with,” said Ferdinand.

“He’ll get a fantastic reception at Old Trafford (on March 5). The fans appreciated him when he was here and since he’s been gone they sing his name.

“He came here a young boy and left a world-class player. He showed a lot of respect when he left and still does.”

Despite the Madrid obstacle, Ferdinand wants to reach Wembley again after United were steamrollered by Barcelona in 2011.

“It’d be nice to go back there and put what happened last time right. We went there and we didn’t give a great account of ourselves.”

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